Additional Learning

Large Urban Middle School

Posted: February 12, 2016
Author: Kevin Duncan

One of our client districts asked us to work specifically with a declining inner-city school. The issue was declining math proficiency that was exacerbated by declining enrollment. The school was at risk of being shut down because the district simply couldn’t justify keeping the building running with the declining enrollment.

Of many initiatives that were able to implement at this inner city school, Ed Direction is most proud of the structured math and reading labs that were creatively designed to be held daily for roughly 20% of the school’s students, without requiring additional funds. Along with the implementation of several evidence-based instructional strategies school-wide, the labs were a huge hit with the students and parents, and led to 27% improvement in math proficiency over a three year period. Not surprisingly, the inbound student choice permits increased by 31% over the same time period.

Author

Kevin Duncan

Kevin has experience serving the needs of public sector, higher education, and retail clients. Prior to joining Cicero Group, he worked in the Private Wealth Management division at Goldman Sachs and at an environmental and energy policy think-tank where he led an effort to establish a microfinance organization in the Navajo Nation. Kevin graduated from Utah State University with a degree in finance and economics.